Classic & Vintage - Poll: Which of these 2 bars would you use

I'm waiting on UPS to get here and decided to pass time with a petty question. I can't decide which handle bar I like better. The bends are different but they are both steel and both in good shape cosmetically. So... which do you like?



Bend A:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2620/3837163435_7e11d30ece_o.jpg
Bend B:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3418/3837162971_585aa213c5_o.jpg

Bend A:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2508/3837953966_c66c3c1da0_o.jpg
Bend B:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3502/3837162587_24e1b7a809_o.jpg

Bend A:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3435/3837163199_11c20ac7e2_o.jpg
Bend B:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3420/3837953510_9f08fb8d2a_o.jpg

haha.. i was looking at the franken section last night and came across your bike and was dying to see how it was coming along. i like A. I currently have a similar one to your B and it feels a bit too cruiserish. IMO i think with A, you can shift the bar ends easier. Then again.. i'm jsut pulling stuff outta my a$$. Sweet ride. I'm considering converting my fixed/ss townie to a 1x9 with a barend of some sort.

did you cut down the bars between the last set of shots? they look much shorter from the rear view.
I like bend A

No, I haven't cut anything.

Thanks bluenote. I have made some small changes in components, but have mostly been waiting on my order from Niagara cycle. The wait is killing me!

I could always put it back to the way I got it....
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3497/3726479377_44a260493e_o.jpg

i could always put it back to the way i got it....


+1

yeah you shoudl totally put it back the way you had it. Whats your waybill number for your UPS, i'll have them redirect your parts to my place. :-)

OOOh....I like A

Personally, I wanna see some drops flipped 180º so that the ends face the rider, like regular upright handlebars. Can you take pic with the original bars like that, mkeller?
I voted for A, though.
-Gene-

Both of those bars seem flared awfully wide to use bar-end shifters, imo, but I do think that bars are about as subjective and personal an issue as anything on a bike. Here's a shot of Albatross bars with bar-ends on my Kogswell. The bend is much more toward the rider than flared out, and as a result, the wrist position feels good with shifting to me.

http://web.mit.edu/nlerner/Public/Bikes/KogswellPorteur9.jpg

Neal

as far as too wide for bar ends...where exactly are you putting your hands?

I say Bend A, but shorten 'em.

Nevermind my request Mkeller, I realized I had the stuff to do it here.
Puts you into this insanely upright position, especially with a short stem. It gives little handlebar room, though. Neat to ride, you (all) should try it some time.
-Gene-

as far as too wide for bar ends...where exactly are you putting your hands?

That's a personal question!

Neal

Just use the cool looking ones

Bend A.

I'd use bend A, but I'd cut off at least 1 1/2" and angle them down just a tad.

Yeah, I'm on with the Bend A crowd. However, it's only fair to mention that I'd also like to see some vinyl streamers on those bar ends.

Don

Well, that seems fairly unanimous. I was leaning that way, but my wife was putting some doubt in my head.

Anyway, UPS showed up a little bit after 6 this evening. I spent the night setting everything up then took the long anticipated test ride.

So far so great, it feels great compared to any upright bike I have ever ridden. Now I just need to wrap the bars... and decide what to use. I'm going to ride it into work tomorrow and try to take some photos later.

Thanks for the opinions!

Oh yeah... guess where bend A came from, a 1970's Huffy Bay Pointe.

Personally, I wanna see some drops flipped 180º so that the ends face the rider, like regular upright handlebars. Can you take pic with the original bars like that, mkeller?
I voted for A, though.
-Gene-

I have been thinking about that a lot for a road bike for my girlfriend— don't want to spend money on upright handlebars /and/ brake levers.

otherwise, i say flip A upside down.

You know some of the '70s era Huffy bikes, the Bay Point and one other that slips my mind right now, had nice handle bars on them. I took off an riser bar from one and used it on a 3 speed Schwinn Breeze and they were great. They looked better and were more comfy than the original bars.

So is the Lotus the reason that I saw your Schwinn up on Craigslist a week or so ago?

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee206/ohiobikes/Schwinn%20Breeze%203%20Speed/IMG_1512.jpg

Option 'C'?

I'll go with others, saying bend "A", but shorten them a tad.

Option 'C'?

Option C is you buy me some Nitto albatross bars

Yeah, I sold the Collegiate to pay for new tires and all of the other pieces for the Lotus. I sold the Lime suburban and gave that money to the house repair general fund.

I bought the lotus for 10.00 from a homeless man. Most of the parts came from a too small garage sale find. The only original part aside from the frame and fork is the Shimano Altus front derailleur, cable hardware, BB and headset.

I need to find something to wrap the handles this afternoon then I will snap some finished pictures.


You know some of the '70s era Huffy bikes, the Bay Point and one other that slips my mind right now, had nice handle bars on them. I took off an riser bar from one and used it on a 3 speed Schwinn Breeze and they were great. They looked better and were more comfy than the original bars.

So is the Lotus the reason that I saw your Schwinn up on Craigslist a week or so ago?

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee206/ohiobikes/Schwinn%20Breeze%203%20Speed/IMG_1512.jpg

I like bend B, and I'd throw a strap crossbar across it too like the old Cycleplanes.

I would prefer this bar.

http://www.classiccitybrew.com/athens_gameday.JPG

i think u should trade em for some bullhorn bars personally tho i like the shorter bars f thats what you really want

I like A it is reminiscent of the old schwinn and hawethorn bars but do nip the ends a bit

Well as far as cutting the ends go.... I taped them up today so... maybe it's a bit late for that.

I am just going to leave them as is for now and maybe someday I will replace them with something a bit nicer. I like the length after riding them, they make the reach feel very nice.

I have to agree, I like Bend A the best... The bars I put on my Mixte are somewhat of a cross between your two bar styles. Mine have a bend more like bars B, but come more straight back at the grip area like bar A. I got mine off an 1950's Schwinn frame I have.